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Castle · Helsingør, Região da Capital
Castelo de Kronborg (Kronborg Slot)
The Renaissance castle from 1574 to 1585 on the tip of the Øresund, where kings levied a toll on passing ships and where Shakespeare set Hamlet. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Castelo de Kronborg (Kronborg Slot)
Kronborg sits on the headland where the Øresund is only 4 km wide between Denmark and Suécia. In the 15th century there was the fortress of Krogen, built by King Érico da Pomerânia to collect the Øresund toll paid by all ships entering and leaving the Baltic. Between 1574 and 1585, Frederick II transformed the fortress into a Renaissance castle, built of sandstone with copper roofs and towers, designed by the Flemish architects Hans Hendrik van Paesschen and Anthonis van Obbergen.
A fire in 1629 destroyed almost everything except the chapel; Christian IV rebuilt the castle keeping the same exterior appearance. The visit takes you through the royal apartments, the Great Banquet Hall—62 metres long, one of the largest in northern Europe at the time—the chapel with carved pews, and the Danish royal tapestries. In the casemates, dark galleries under the castle, stands the statue of Holger Danske, the hero who, according to legend, sleeps there and will awaken if Denmark needs him.
Shakespeare set Hamlet at Kronborg, called Elsinore in the play, and the castle has staged the play since 1816, with actors such as Laurence Olivier and Jude Law in the lead. For part of the year actors perform scenes of Hamlet through the rooms and the courtyard. The castle has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, and the surrounding bastions are open for walks with views to Suécia.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 2 to 3 hours, including the casemates and a walk around the bastions.
Best time
In the morning, right at opening, before the groups from Copenhagen arrive. In summer there are Hamlet performances around the castle and the Shakespeare festival usually takes place in August. In winter hours are reduced; check before you go.
How to get there
A 15-minute walk from Helsingør station along the harbor and past the maritime museum. By car there is parking by the harbor.
Tip
Bring a warm layer for the casemates—they are cold and dark even in summer. Combine the visit with the M/S Museet for Søfart next door, and walk the bastions out to the headland, from where you can see Helsingborg across the water.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Castelo de Kronborg (Kronborg Slot)
Why is Kronborg a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Because of the importance of the Renaissance castle and its role in controlling the Øresund, where a passage toll was charged to ships. It was inscribed in 2000.
What are the casemates?
Underground galleries where soldiers and storerooms were located. The statue of Holger Danske, the legendary hero, stands there.
Are there performances of Hamlet?
Yes: for part of the year actors perform scenes around the castle, and the Shakespeare festival usually takes place in August. Check the programme.
How long does the visit take?
Between 2 and 3 hours for the halls, the chapel, the casemates and the bastions.